China expects 9 billion passenger trips during Spring Festival

China is expected to see a record-breaking 9 billion passenger trips during the annual Spring Festival travel rush, the Ministry of Transport said Tuesday.

The travel rush, usually a period of high transportation demand as people return home for family reunions, will last from Jan. 26 to March 5 this year.

Passenger trips via railway, highway, waterways, and civil aviation are expected to hit 1.8 billion during the period, Vice Minister of Transport Li Yang told a press conference.

China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. said China's railways are expected to transport an average of 12 million passengers per day during this year's Spring Festival travel rush, totaling 480 million. 

This marks an increase of 37.9 percent compared to the previous year and 18 percent compared to 2019, said Huang Xin, head of the company's passenger transport department.

About 80 percent of the trips will be self-driving trips, which are likely to hit a new high, Li said.

Li said that the country is facing more pressure on logistics and work safety as demand for energy, daily supplies, and agricultural products surges.

Hence, a special work team has been established by the ministry along with various departments to oversee transport during the travel rush.

The work team pledged efforts to strengthen the monitoring of and coordination among different transportation sectors such as railway, highway, waterway and civil aviation, and make sure the transport capacity is sufficient to meet demands.

Safety supervision will also be enhanced to ensure that personnel, vehicles, ships, and aircrafts are kept in good condition, Li said, adding that refined plans for dealing with inclement weather and massive passenger flow will be made to improve emergency response capabilities.

The Spring Festival, which falls on February 10 this year, is China's biggest festival and a day for family reunions. 

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: A view of Anyang Railway Station, central China's Henan Province, January 12, 2024. /CFP)